Toni Whitfield

Dr. Toni S. Whitfield (Dr. T) has been teaching at JMU since 2001 and is originally from Pensacola, Florida—the land of snowy white beaches. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre, a Master’s in Communication Studies and a Doctorate in Education--Curriculum and Instruction.

Her research interests are in instructional studies (how students communicate, service-learning, etc.) and in workforce preparation, experiential education and organizational culture.

She is a corporate trainer for various clients in the Shenandoah Valley.

In Organizational Communication, she has taught, Organizational Communication (SCOM 350), Business and Professional Communication (SCOM 358) and Communication Training (SCOM 449) and the capstone course for the concentration, Advanced Organizational Communication (SCOM 450). In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she is the assistant director of the School of Communication Studies and is the Org. Com., Health Com., and International internships coordinator.

Dr. Whitfield and her husband Scott live in Harrisonburg with their three terriers: Barclay Quinn, Hasten and Ciaran. She spends her free time training and competing with her dogs in agility.

"Working closely with students within the community is one of the reasons why I am in this profession. The satisfaction of seeing a student’s growth and understanding is immeasurable, and when we get to help the community—the impact [on the student] is even greater."